Actuator for beer faucets



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ACTUATOR FOR BEER FAUCETS Filed May 3, 1954 INVENTOR.

T Q H fizfwwiifl ,/Z BY 1 u" 20 I Federated Sept. 9, E958 ACTUATOR FOR BEER FAUCETS Herbert L. Marsh, Glencoe, Minn.

Application May 3, 1954, Serial No. 427,255

1 (Ilaim. (Cl. 317--198) My invention relates generally to dispensing means for beverages, and more particularly to electrically operated valves normally utilized in dispensing of effervescent or carbonated beverages.

Manually controlled dispensing faucets for beer require the complete attention of the operator during the operation of filling beer glasses and containers. Even with both hands free, however, the average operator loses considerable beer from overflow of the containers due to slow or delayed reactions.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of novel electrically operated means for said faucet which may be controlled remotely therefrom such as by the foot of the operator, so as to leave his two hands free to accomplish other tasks during the beer glass filling operation.

A still further and highly important object of my invention is the provision of a solenoid motor valve operating means which may open and close the dispensing faucet so rapidly as to effect a considerable saving of the operators time while simultaneously preventing waste of beer or other product being dispensed.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel electrically operated means for the dispensing valve or faucet which does not affect the manual operation of said valve when such is desired.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel electrical faucet-operating mechanism which utilizes electrical energy only when the faucet is in an open beer or beverage-dispensing position and which has a positive spring-closing means which is rendered effective immediately upon cutting off of said current.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is easily attached, which has a minimum of working parts and is extremely durable and rugged in construction.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional beer dispensing bar having my novel faucet operating structure secured thereto, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and shown in vertical section; and

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a conventional beer-dispensing bar having a valve-operated dispensing faucet 2 projecting forwardly from a stand-pipe 3, which in turn is secured to the upper surface 4 of the bar 1. Beer pipes, not shown, lead to the dispensing-valve 2 through the standpipe 3. The faucet 2 has a valve within it, not shown, which is operated by' means of a control lever 5 which is adapted to be manually oscillated between its full and dotted line positions of Fig. 1 to open and close the valve.

For electrically controlling the movements of the operating lever 5, I provide an electric motor in the nature of a solenoid, identified in its entirety by the numeral 6 and including a field element 7 comprising a winding 7a and the usual laminated core 8. The field element is rigidly secured to a mounting stucture 9 fast on the upper end of the stand-pipe 3, by means of a nut-equipped bolt or the like 10. Mounted for reciprocatory sliding movements toward and away from the field element 7 is an armature element 11. A generally U-shaped bale 12 is rigidly secured to the armature element ill by means of rivets or the like 13. The opposite ends of the bale 12 are bent angularly in the direction of the faucet 2 and are provided with openings 14 therein for the reception of the inturned ends 15 of a yoke 16. The yoke 16 straddles the field element 7 and intermediate its ends is formed to provide a forwardly projecting stem 17 which is pivotally connected as at 13 to a coupling member 19 which embraces the intermediate portion of the lever 5. Movement of the armature element 11 toward the field element 7 causes the yoke 16 to impart forward faucet-opening movements to the handle 5 responsive to energization of the field winding 7a. The field winding 7a is preferably interposed in a conventional electrical circuit which includes a foot-operated switch 20. The circuit includes a conductor cable 21 extending between the switch 20 and the field winding 7a and other leads, not shown, but which may be assumed to be connected to a suitable source of power, not shown. If desired, an electric lamp 22 may be interposed in the circuit to indicate that the circuit is closed and that the switch 29 is in condition for operation to control the faucet 2.

As above indicated, when the switch 20 is closed, the solenoid winding 7a will be energized to move the armature 11 in a direction to open the faucet 2 to dispense a drink. For shutting off the faucet 2, I provide a pair of coil tension springs 23 each having one end 24 hooked over a portion of the yoke 16 and its other end anchored as indicated at 25 to an opposite side of the laminated core n. Thus, when the foot-operated switch 2d is opened, the springs 23 rapidly move the yoke 16, the lever 5 and the armature 11 back to their faucet-closed positions of Figs. 2 and 3.

Preferably, and as shown, a protective cover 26 is mounted on the supporting structure by means of screws or the like 27 and encloses the solenoid 6 and indicator lamp 222. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the cover 26 is provided with an aperture 28 through which the stem 17 extends. Preferably, the cover 2.6 is made from translucent material such as synthetic resin so as to make most effective use of any advertising material which may be imbedded therein or printed thereon.

My invention has been throughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof it should be obvious that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Actuating mechanism for an operating lever, said mechanism comprising. a solenoid motor, said solenoid motor including a field element comprising a winding and a laminated core, means rigidly mounting said field element in spaced relation to said operating lever, an armature element, a generally lJ-shaped bale carried by said armature element, the opposite ends of said bale being a.) pivotally secured to the opposite ends of said Ushaped bale, an operating stem connecting the intermediate portion of said yoke to said operating lever, and a coil spring one on each side of said stem interposed between said yoke and said field element and biasing said armature toward an extended position.

1,614,456 Crossett Fan. 18, 1927 4 Bierenfeld July 27, 1937 Paullin July 27, 1937 Bagby Nov. 16, 1937 McEnery Dec. 5, 1939 Sparrow Mar. 14, 1944 Foster Oct. 6, 1953 Cofiey Nov. 24, 1953 

